Syria evacuations of besieged towns continue after two-day halt - monitor, state media

Rebel fighters welcome a convoy of buses carrying Sunni rebels and civilians, who were evacuated from Zabadani and Madaya, as part of a reciprocal evacuation deal for four besieged towns, upon their arrival at al-Rashideen to travel later towards rebel-held Idlib, Syria April 21, 2017. REUTERS/Ammar Abdullah

BEIRUT (Reuters) - The evacuation of Syrian civilians and fighters from four besieged towns was completed on Friday after a 48-hour halt, as part of a mediated swap deal between the warring sides, state media and a rebel official said.

Thousands of civilians and pro-government fighters from the Shi'ite towns of al-Foua and Kefraya arrived in army-held Aleppo, a war monitor said.